Clothespin



Jan. 23, 1923. 1,443,229

C. W. L l TTLEFIELD. CLOTHESP N. FILED JULY 5, I921 2 SHEETS'SHEET 2Patented Jan. 23, 1923.. 7

UNITED STATES y 1,443,229 rareuv orFwE. 1

CHARLES W. LITTLEFIELD, OF WATSONV'ILLE, CALIFORNIA.

CLOTHESPIN.

Application filed July @1921. Serial No. 482,43

To (dim/1 out it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, Unannns lV. Lrrrnn- FIELD. a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at VVatsonville, in the county of Santa Cruz and Stateof Ualitorniaphave invented certain newand uset'ul Improvements in a AClothespin: and I do hereby declare the following" L0 be a t'ul-l, clearand exact description of the invention such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates generally to clips and specifically to clothespins and more particularly to articles of this kind formed from wire. Ii

The invention consists of a clothes pin embodying complemental memberspivotally connected intermediate their ends to provide reacting jaws andoperating ha-ndles, the latter normally standing apart and the jawsbeing pressed togetherby a spring action and separable. by inwardpressure on I the handles;

The invention consists of an-article of the nature aforesaid constructedof a single length ot wire of suitable gage and material bent uponitself to provide a transverse coil or helix and. coa-cting jaws andhandles, said coil or helix being; adapted to serve both as a spring andfulcrum and as a housing 'l or the ends o'l. the wire which extendtherein and are concealed and protected thereby. Other objects andadvantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the.invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodi- .inent oi? the invention it isto be understood that in adapting the same to meet difierent conditionsand requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thenature otthe invention.

Referring to-the accompanying drawings Framing a part of thespecification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of many *l orn'is of clothes pinsembodying the invention,

Figure 2 blank at one stage in the formation of the pin,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a turther step in formingthe pin,

Figure t is a front view of a different form of modification,

l'iip'ure is a side vie'wotthe modification shown in Figure at,

is a plan view illustrating the Figure 6 is a front View of a furtheriodi'l ication. v

Figure 7 is a side view of the form of clothes .pin illustrated inFigure 6,

Figure 8 is a plan section on the line 8- -8 of Figure .6, Y

Figure 9 is a front view of a further modification, I c

Figure 10 is a side vieW thereof, Figure 11 is a plan section on theline 1i1l of Figure 9, and

Fi-giue 12isa perspective iew of a further modification.

1 Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the several Views of the drawings by likereference characters;

In each of the forms the articleis constructed of a single length ofwire bent to provide a transverse coil or helix 1, coacting jaws 2,complemental handles 3 and inturned ends i which enter the coil or helix1 and are concealed and protected thereby. The coil 1 and inturned ends4 are in line with the fulcrum of thecompa'nion members and aresubstantially the SEUDBll'l the several forms, the differencesresidingchiefly in the gripping ends of the jaws, the pressurerecei'viing ends ol the handles and .the relative arrangement andconstiuctionot the element comprising the pivotally connected member.

in the form shown in Figure l the jawsfl a reol similar orliket'ormation and consists of loops of uniform size whichare oppositelydisposed. The handles 3 are substantially alike and are laterallyofisetto admit oi the inturned ends at passing between the respec-.

the members which are in direct contact therewith, Thus an elementofeach member pivots upon an inturned end 4. Each of the members has aportion of the wire common to the jaw and handle and these portions aredisposed at opposite ends of the coil or helix 1 and pivoted upon therespective inturned ends 4.

The; article shown in Figures 4: and 5, while embodying the same generalstructural features, is specifically ditl'erent in the formation of thehandles and the relative arrangement thereof, The handles. 3 appear asstems which terminate in eyes 2%". and constitute end portions .of thewire blank from which the device formed. The handles are centrallydisposed and the'elements of the jaws oi which they form extensions areinwardly offset, as shown at 3, to admit the jaws and handles pivotingon the inturned ends 4;. One of the jaws has its outer or gripping end 2inturned and the companion jaw is provided at its outer or gripping endwith an inturned end 2 which overlaps and cooperates with the inturnedend 2' to insure a more positive gripping action when the device is inservice.

Inthe form shown in Figures 9 and 10 the handles 3 are substantially thesame as corresponding parts illustrated in Figure 1. The generalarrangement of the members is somewhat similar with the exception thatone of the elements of a member common to the jaw and handle is offsetinwardly as indicated at 3 to form a narrow jaw 2 whose gripping end 2is inturned to pass through an eye or elongated coil 2 at the grippingend of the other jaw 2 and in the plane thereof. This provides for apositive grip and prevents slipping.

Figure 12 illustrates a construction in which the handles aresubstantially the same as those shown in Figures 1, 6 and 9 and in whichone of the jaws 2 is constructed similar to the jaw 2 of the form shownin Figures 9 and 10. The other jaw 2 corresponds to the jaw oftheClothespin illustrated in Figure l. The handles are similarly fulcrumedand the elements of each member common to the jaw and handle arefulcrumed upon the receptive inturned ends 4.

Forms other than those herein indicated are contemplated and may bedevised but.

are not referred to since they embody the features herein specified indifferent combinations and are such as come within the purview of theinvention and readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

In forming the pin, a wire blank of similar length, gage, temper andmaterial is provided and doubled upon itself, the ends being bentlaterallyas indicated at 4 in Figure 2. A coil 1 is formed at the fold.The blank at this stage appears as shown in Fig ure 2. In the next stepone of the end portions is bent to provide the handle 3 and cooperatingjaw 2, the bent end 4. entering the coil 1.' The blank at this stage isshown in Figure In the final step the other folded end portion of theblank is bent to provide the other jaw and handle, thereby conipletingthe pin which appears as indicated in Figure 1.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A clothes pin ofthe character specified consisting of a single length of wirecomprisingcomplemental pivoted members, each member consisting of a jaw and ahandle, the article comprising a transversely disposed coil or helixcoincident with the pivotal connection of the members and receiving theinturned ends of the wire which are concealed and protected thereby,each of the members comprising an element which is common to the jaw andhandle, the gripping end of one of the jaws consisting of a coil and thegripping end of the companion jaw being offset to'enter the grippingcoil to prevent slipping.

2. A clothes pin of the character specified consisting of a singlelength of wire comprising complemental pivoted members, each memberconsisting of a jaw and a handle, the article comprising a transverselydis posed coil or helix coincident with the pivotal connection of themembers and receiving the inturned ends of the wire which are concealedand protected thereby, each of the members comprising an element whichis common to the jaw and handle, the gripping end of one of the awsterminating in a coil, and the gripping end of the other jaw beingoffset to enter the said coil to insure a positive gripping and. preventslipping.

3. A clothes pin of the character specified, consisting of a singlelength of wire bent to provide complemental pivoted members and atransversely disposed coil, or helix, coincident with the pivotalconnections of the members, the end portions of the wire formin g thehandles and the terminals of the wire being bent in from the handles toenter the ends of the coil to provide a fulcrum for said members andagainst opposite sides of which. coil the said members are held by thespring action of the coil under any and all relative positions of thejaws.

4. A clothes pin of the character specified, consisting of a singlelength of wire bent to provide complemental pivoted. members and atransversely disposed coil, or helix, coincident with the pivotalconnections of the members, the end portions of the wire forming thehandles and the terminals of the wire being bent in from the handles toenter the ends of the coil to provide a fulcrum for said members andagainst opposite sides of which coil the said members are held by thespring action of the coil under any and all relative positions of thejaws, and the free end of one of said jaws being intnrned .to enter theother of said jaws.

In testimony whereof I. afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.7

CHARLES W. LITTLEFIELD

